“We Drop a Comrade's Tear”
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“We drop a comrade's tear” Colonel Edward Lyon Bailey and the Second New Hampshire Infantry at Gettysburg Karlton D. Smith Colonel Edward Lyon Bailey led the 2nd New Hampshire to Gettysburg with a "firm determination to do or die." Despite heavy losses among the officers and men, the regiment remained "firm and fearless." The 2nd New Hampshire was able to survive its encounter at Gettysburg due to the skills of its officers, and particularly, to the leadership skills of Colonel Bailey.1 The 2nd New Hampshire was originally organized as a three-month regiment. The Abbot Guards of Manchester, one of the first companies to be raised in New Hampshire, had gone to Concord as part of the 1st New Hampshire. On May 1, 1861, the company marched forty-five miles to Portsmouth to join the 2nd New Hampshire under the command of Colonel Thomas Prescott Pierce.2 Pierce, then serving as the U.S. Postmaster of Manchester, New Hampshire, had served with the 9th U.S. Infantry during the Mexican War and had seen action at Contreras and Churubusco. By May 10, 979 men, all enlisted for three months, had arrived at camp and were being "drilled, disciplined and made acquainted with the duties pertaining to a soldier's life." When the U.S. War Department ordered the governor not to send any more three-month men, the regiment was re- organized, between May 31 and June 8, as a three-year unit. With this change in the unit’s status, Colonel Pierce resigned on June 4, 1861.3 The unit’s new colonel, Gilman Marston, was a graduate of Dartmouth and Harvard. He had served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives (1845-1849) and as a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1850. He had been elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth U.S. Congress (and would be re-elected to the Thirty-seventh Congress and serve until March 3, 1863). Marston and the 1,046 officers and men of the 2nd New Hampshire were mustered into federal service on June 10 at Portsmouth.4 Edward L. Bailey was born December 10, 1841 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Edward was one of nine children born to Hiram and Elizabeth (Lyon) Bailey, and the only son. He received his education from the common schools of Manchester. Bailey had served as the chief clerk at the Manchester Post Office and had no previous military experience. The friendship and 101 influence of Postmaster (and first colonel of the 2nd) Thomas P. Pierce were largely responsible for Bailey's early commission as a first lieutenant in the Abbot Guards. On June 4, 1861, during the regimental re-organization, Bailey was elected captain of Company I (the former Abbot Guards) "which position he filled to the acceptance of men under and officers over him."5 It was believed that "every officer should be a gentleman, and cultivate good manners ..." An officer was also expected to be … brave, intelligent, and courteous. He should be patient, just, and reliable. He should be ambitious of distinction, industrious in acquiring knowledge of his profession, and conscientious in the performance of his duties.6 As a company commander, Bailey was responsible for governing and administrating his company as well as establishing a regular routine. He was responsible for the instruction of his officers and non-commissioned officers in tactics and for "the cultivation of a military spirit and pride in the profession among the men." As long as Bailey paid "strict attention to duty, an honest regard for the men, and a constant self-respect, guided by equal and exact justice to all," he would be able to "command the most insubordinate set of men."7 Bailey, with the approval of the regimental commander, had the power to appoint, and reduce, non-commissioned officers. This power was exercised jointly so that a company commander could not reappoint someone who had been "justly" reduced, and to prevent him from exercising any "undue favoritism."8 Bailey was responsible for keeping the company books (all nine of them), the most important being the Descriptive Book, the Clothing Book, the Muster Roll, and the Company Monthly Return. If these books were correct, "all the others must be right of necessity." He was also responsible for the daily, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, quarto-monthly, and annual reports, not to mention other papers that were required "when circumstances render them necessary."9 Captain Bailey was also required to serve as Officer of the Day. He was responsible for the "good order, cleanliness, and attention to the daily duties throughout the camp or garrison." He received his orders from his commanding officer and transmitted them to his subordinates. He was responsible for all the guards, police, and fatigue parties.10 If any company commander, such as Edward L. Bailey, performed his duties well, "no wise and beneficent ruler ever derived more heartfelt homage, more faithful services, or more patriotic devotion, then [sic] a just, competent, and faithful commander receives from his company. They will love him truly, they will obey him faithfully and they will stand by him whilst there is life in the hour of battle."11 The state of New Hampshire equipped the 2nd New Hampshire "in the most thorough and comprehensive manner according to the military standard of the day." The men received gray uniforms with "jaunty forage caps" and spike-tailed dress coats. Nine of the companies received .69 caliber smoothbore muskets. The men of Company B, thanks to subscriptions by the citizens of Concord, were armed with Sharps rifles.12 While in camp Bailey's company staged the “rug-hash war" against the character of their rations. The entire company was placed under guard in its quarters for two days for "mutinous conduct" in that they “wouldn't eat the hash ration furnished at the Commissary's [sic], but marched to the city in a body and procured more palatable food." The rebellion, however, "effected the desired change in the interest of the whole regiment." What part Captain Bailey played in this rebellion is unclear.13 The 2nd New Hampshire left Portsmouth by railroad on the morning of June 20 and arrived in Boston at about noon. Colonel Marston, in addressing an association of the Sons of New Hampshire, stated: "We have not left our happy and peaceful homes for a war of conquest or oppression of anybody. We have taken up arms to preserve the freest and best government against the most causeless rebellion ever conceived. And we will do it!"14 102 The regiment moved by railroad to Fall River, Massachusetts, transferred to the steamboat Bay State, and arrived in New York City at about 11 A.M. on June 21. The regiment was again warmly welcomed by the association of the Sons of New Hampshire. One of the speakers exhorted the men, "Onward! Onward! then, shall be our motto, as we know it is yours; onward, until the demon of treason and disunion is crushed from our land, the Yankee Doodle and The Star Spangled Banner shall again thrill the hearts of a patriotic, a united, an invincible people."15 Rail cars transported the regiment from New York that afternoon for Washington, D.C., which it reached about noon on June 23. While passing through New Jersey, Lieutenant Charles W. Walker became the regiment's first casualty when he fell from the train and later died of his injuries. The regiment went into camp on Colorama Hill, a mile north of Washington. On July 2, it was placed in the brigade of Colonel Ambrose E. Burnside of the 1st Rhode Island.16 The New Englanders embarked on their first campaign on July 16. Five days later they arrived on the battlefield of Bull Run at about 10:30 A.M. Early in the engagement Colonel Marston was wounded in the shoulder by a rifle ball but returned later to "tumultuous applause." Lieutenant Colonel Frank S. Fiske led the regiment through most of the battle. Despite being in their first engagement, Fiske reported that the men obeyed orders with coolness and precision. They took every position they were ordered to, and never wavered or retired until ordered to do so, and were among the last, if not the last, to leave the field. Their retreat on the whole route to their camp was unattended by tumult or any disorder further than leaving their ranks. Their conduct throughout the day inspires me with entire confidence in their courage and steadiness ...17 Early in August the regiment was moved to Bladensburg, Maryland for two months of drilling and learning the duties of military life. On August 4, the regiment was placed in a brigade, later division, commanded by Brigadier General Joseph Hooker. On September 5, the regiment exchanged its smoothbores for Springfield rifled-muskets, except for Company B, which retained its Sharps rifles. The regiment also received its first installment of recruits when ninety-seven men arrived in camp. With the onset of winter, the men were put to work erecting winter quarters and building corduroy roads.18 This was not an easy time for the regiment. On November 29, Captain James W. Carr, Company C, reported that the health of his company was not very good. Tents being poor and not having received orders to go into winter quarters, we have not built so comfortable barracks as we otherwise would. The discipline of the company is good. Arms and equipment in good order and all the well men are anxiously waiting for action.19 In April of 1862, the 2nd was assigned to Brigadier General Henry M.